DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARCTIC RAY MODEL

An Arctic ray model ICERAY, which is based on a ray model previously d eveloped for deep ocean environments, is described. An acoustic propag ation description for Arctic regions is achieved by introducing top la yering above the ocean environment and allowing receivers to be locate d in either the ocean volume or the top (ice) layers. Compressional an d shear ray components are included. An evanescent field, in a ray for m, is shown to account for the dominant component of the field for lon g-range propagation to receivers in the ice. Comparisons to an existin g full wave model and corresponding analytic expressions demonstrate t he accuracy of this ray approach if the evanescent field is included.